Device for editing animating, method for editin animation, program for editing animation, recorded medium where computer program for editing animation is recorded

ABSTRACT

When a point (parameter) to be edited is judged to be present in the shape or moving state of an object (to be displayed) during reproduction of animation, the user selects the object on the screen (S 201–204 ). Varying parameters (variation parameters; position, and the like) of the object are extracted during the reproduction of the animation and displayed on another display screen. The animation can be corrected by stopping it at a part to be edited and correcting the values of the displayed variation parameters (S 205–208 ). Since the variation parameters can be extracted and the animation can be edited, edition of animation is facilitated.

This application is the national phase under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of PCTInternational Application No. PCT/JP01/04292 which has an Internationalfiling date of May 22, 2001, which designated the United States ofAmerica.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a time-varying image editing apparatusfor editing (creating and/or modifying) a time-varying image by using aprescription data, a time-varying image editing method, a time-varyingimage editing program, and a recording medium storing thereon a computerprogram for editing process of the time-varying image, for use in thetime-varying image editing apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, animation creating apparatuses capable of creating ananimation (time-varying image) using computer graphics.

Such animation generation apparatuses create an animation in accordancewith data (animation prescription data) for prescribing an object interms of its shape and movement in the time-varying image.

For example, reference (1) “Tokukaihei No. 7-44729 (Japanese Publicationof Unexamined Patent Application, Date of Release: Feb. 14, 1995)”describes a CAD system (Computer-Aided Design system) for creating ananimation by using an object-oriented program.

The system is so established that animation prescription data, which isin accordance with a kind of parts or a kind of movement of an apparatusto be an object of design (object), is inputted dialogically byselecting an instance (an example of the animation prescription data)stipulated in the object-oriented program.

Moreover, reference (2) “Tokukaihei No. 9-167251 (Japanese Publicationof Unexamined Patent Application, Date of Release: Jun. 24, 1997)”discloses a CAD system in which a natural language (a language usingexpressions used in general sentences) as animation prescription data.

The system is so established that a sentence in the natural languageinputted as the animation prescription data is analyzed so as torecognize words constituting the sentence, and relationship between thewords, so that an animation is created by selecting, in accordance withthe recognized words, a command for use in an animation regarding ashape or movement of an object. Here, the command is an indicationlanguage (reproduction engine-use language) for driving a reproductionengine for the animation.

However, in the system of reference (1), it is necessary to create andregister a new instance in accordance with the object-oriented program,in order to set animation prescription data to other data that is notregistered as an instance, for prescribing the object in terms of themovement or a change in the shape.

Moreover, in the system of reference (2), it is also necessary to createa new command and register the command in accordance with the naturallanguage, in order to modify the object in terms of the movement and thechange in the shape.

As described above, in those systems, it is necessary to create andregister a new instance or command in order to modify, as requested by auser, the object in the animation in terms or the movement and thechange in the shape. After the new instance or command is registered,the data is inputted by using the instance or the natural language.

Because of this, it is difficult to simplify the creation andmodification process (editing process) and to shorten time periodnecessary for the creation and modification process (editing process).

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention has an object to provide a time-varying imageediting apparatus capable of performing an editing process of atime-varying image with ease.

In order to attain the aforementioned object, a time-varying imageediting apparatus (present editing apparatus) of the present inventionfor editing a time-varying image by using prescription data including aparameter that prescribes a condition of an object in the time-varyingimage, is provided with an input section for receiving a userinstruction; an extracting section for extracting, from the prescriptiondata, a varying parameter that regards a change in the condition of theobject in the time-varying image; and a modifying section for modifyingthe thus extracted varying parameter in accordance with the userinstruction, and updating the prescription data by using the thusmodified varying parameter.

The present editing apparatus is an apparatus for editing a time-varyingimage (animation) by using a computer graphics.

Generally, it is so arranged that the time-varying image is created inaccordance with data that prescribes a shape or movement of an object inthe image (an object displayed in the image; character). The presentediting apparatus is so arranged as to edit the time-varying image byusing the prescription data.

Especially, the present editing apparatus is so arranged as to use theextracting section to extract the varying parameter regarding the changein the condition of the object in the time-varying image.

Specifically, parameters that prescribe a shape, movement, a color orthe like of the respective objects are generally written in theprescription data. Moreover, some of the parameters of the objects arechanged in accordance with the change in the condition of the objects inthe time-varying image (such as positions of the objects), while othershave no relation with the change, and are not to be varied (such asnames of the objects). The present editing apparatus is so arranged thata parameter to be varied is extracted, as a varying parameter, from theprescription data.

Then, the modifying section modifies the extracted varying parameter inaccordance with a user instruction. Further, the modifying sectionupdates the prescription data of the time-varying image by using thethus modified varying parameter. With this arrangement, it is possibleto edit the time-varying image in accordance with the user instruction.

As described above, the present editing apparatus is so established asto selectively extract only the varying parameter from the prescriptiondata. With this arrangement, it is possible to edit the time-varyingimage more easily than the case where the whole prescription data isdirectly edited.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of theinvention, reference should be made to the ensuing detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing how an animation editing apparatus of anembodiment of the present invention operates.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view illustrating an arrangement of theanimation editing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing an example of XML data used in theanimation editing apparatus shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4( a) is an explanatory view showing an animation in accordancewith the XML data shown in FIG. 3, while FIGS. 4( b) to 4(d) areexplanatory views showing frame image data in accordance with the XMLdata shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view illustrating a display screen of a displaysection of the animation editing apparatus shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing an example of a display of avarying parameter window on the display screen shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing another example of display of thevarying parameter window on the display screen shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view illustrating a reproduction timerdisplayed on the varying parameter window on the display screen shown inFIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view illustrating part of an example of displayof the varying parameter window on the display screen shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view illustrating an animation obtained byediting the animation shown in FIG. 4( a).

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing XML data in accordance with theanimation illustrated in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view illustrating another animation obtainedby editing the animation shown in FIG. 4( a).

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing XML data in accordance with theanimation shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory view illustrating yet another animationobtained by editing the animation shown in FIG. 4( a).

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view illustrating differential informationdisplayed on the varying parameter window on the display screen shown inFIG. 5.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory view showing XML data in accordance with theanimation shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory view illustrating still another animationobtained by editing the animation shown in FIG. 4( a).

FIG. 18 is an explanatory view showing XML data in accordance with theanimation shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory view illustrating an example of frame imagedata.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory view illustrating a data structure shown inFIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory view illustrating an example of SVG data.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory view illustrating an example of SMIL data.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention is explained below in further detail, by means ofan embodiment. It should be noted that the embodiment is not to limitthe present invention.

An animation editing apparatus (present animation editing apparatus) ofa present embodiment is an apparatus for editing (creating and/ormodifying) and/or reproducing an animation in accordance with data(animation prescription data) that is in accordance with acharacteristic of an object in an image in terms of a shape or movement.

Here, the animation is a time-varying image obtained by continuously(sequentially) displaying a plurality of still images (still image data)per predetermined time. The present animation editing apparatus is soestablished that the present animation editing apparatus edits theanimation by editing the still image data used in the animation.

Especially, the present animation editing apparatus is so establishedthat text data (XML data) in the XML (Extensible Markup Language)formation can be used as animation prescription data.

The XML data, which is text data (data stipulated by a set of lettercharacter codes), functions like data that can be directly processed byan apparatus (or application software used by the apparatus). Therefore,it can be said that the XML data is user-friendly, as well asapparatus-friendly.

Moreover, the XML data is so established that each parameter composingthe data is attached with a tag whose name indicates a content of theparameter to which the tag is attached. Therefore, the user can beeasily informed of the content of the data by reading the XML data.

For detailed explanation of XML, refer to literatures such as “StandardXML Perfect Explanation” (Gijutsu-Hyoron Co.Ltd., by XML/SGML salon,published on May 15, 1998).

To begin with an arrangement of the present animation editing apparatusis explained.

As shown in FIG. 2, the present animation editing apparatus is providedwith an input section 101, a control section 102, a display section 103,an internal data memory storage 104, a text editing section 105, agraphic editing section 106, a conversion dictionary 107, an animationreproducing section 109, and a varying parameter extracting section 110.

The input section (input section, object specifying section) 101 is aninput apparatus provided with a keyboard suitable for inputting a text,and a mouse (both not shown), both of which are suitable for inputtingand transmitting user instructions into the present animation editingapparatus.

Moreover, the input section 101 is provided with a reading apparatus(not shown) for reading a recording medium such as an FD (floppy Disc),a CD (Compact Disk), an MO (Magnetic-optical Disk), a DVD (DigitalVersatile Disc). Thus, the input section 101 also has a function to readXML data (animation prescription data; prescription data) stored inthose recoding media.

The display section 103, which is a monitor having a display screen madeof an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or a CRT (Cathode-Ray Tube), iscapable of displaying the XML data or later-described frame image data,an animation, and the like. Explanation on the display screen of thedisplay section 103 will be provided later.

The internal data memory storage 104, which is composed of a recordingmedium such as an RAM (Random Access Memory), a hard disc or the like,retains (stores) the later described frame image data and the XML data,which is inputted via the input section 101 and edited. Note that theinternal data memory storage 104 is so established as to store thereonthe XML data and the frame image data in such a manner that the XML dataand the frame image data are stored in correspondence with each other.

The conversion dictionary 107, which is composed of a recording mediumsuch as an ROM (Read Only Memory), an RAM, a hard disc and the like,stores thereon a grammar (parameter) of the XML data, and a grammar ofthe image data (command code of the animation reproducing section(reproduction engine) 109) in such a manner that the grammar of thegrammar of the XML data and the grammar of the image data are saved incorrespondence with each other one to one. In short, the conversiondictionary 107 is a corresponding table for converting the XML data intothe command code of the reproduction engine.

Note that the image data is data constituted of the command codes (codesfor displaying an image) of the reproduction engine. Moreover, in thepresent invention, the expression “display of the image data” is used tomean “display of an image in accordance with the image data”.

The text editing section (modifying section, prescription data displaysection) 105 edits, in accordance with the user instruction inputtedinto the input section 101, the XML data stored in the internal datamemory storage 104. Moreover, the text editing section 105 has afunction for displaying on the display section 103 the XML datacurrently being edited.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view illustrating an example of the XML data.Shown in the example is XML data to reproduce an animation shown in FIG.4( a). In the animation, an circle object 801 and a rectangular object802 are moved in such a manner that respective reference points of thecircle object 801 and the rectangular object 802 (a center P1 of thecircuit object 801, and a corner P2 of the rectangular object 802)change from points E1, E2 to E3, and from points K1, K2 to K3.

The XML data shown in FIG. 3 is composed of a plurality of frames (keyframes) 1 to 3, which correspond to E1 to E3 (K1 to K3). In therespective frames 1 to 3, written as parameters sandwiched by tags are areproduction time (time) of each frame, a type (circle, rectangular) ofthe objects (object; display object) to be displayed in an animation,and values (position, radius, height, and width) to prescribe eachobject in terms of shapes and positions. Note that line numbers in twodigits are provided on a left end in the example of the XML data shownin FIG. 3, for easy explanation.

In the XML data shown in FIG. 3, the tags are symbols prescribedby<(name of parameter)>, and </(name of parameter)>.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, in the respective frames 1 to 3, shownas the parameters to prescribe the shape and the position of each objectare values indicating the position (the position in axes X and Y) andradius of the central P1 of the circle object 801 at Times 0, 1, and 4,and the values indicating the position (the position in axes X and Y),width, and height of the corner P2 of the rectangular object 802 atTimes 0, 1, and 4.

In addition, the present animation editing apparatus is capable ofsetting a color of an object as a parameter, besides the type, shape,position, and the like of the object.

Moreover, in FIG. 3, the tags in lines 1, 11, 12, 22, 23, and 33 show(delimiters) of frames, and thus the tags are frame tags having framenumbers as their parameters. Text data sandwiched by those frame tagsare parameters of each object in the respective frames 1 to 3.

For example, in the frame 1, the number sandwiched by the time tag inline 2 is a parameter that indicates the reproduction time of the frame1 (which indicates after how many seconds the frame 1 starts from astart of the animation).

Moreover, the circle tags in lines 3 and 6 indicate that contents inlines 2 to 5 are parameters of the circle object 801. Specifically, inthe position tag in line 4, X and Y coordinates of the center P1 of thecircle object 801 are described. Moreover, the radius tag in line 5indicates the radius (cm) or the circle object 801.

Further, the rectangular tags in lines 7 and 10 indicate that thecontents in lines 8 and 9 are the parameter of the rectangular object802. In the position tag in line 8, the X and Y coordinates of thecorner P2 of the rectangular object 802 are described. The height tagand the width tag in line 9 indicate the height (cm) and width (cm) ofthe rectangular object 802.

Moreover, the text editing section 105 shown in FIG. 2 has a function tocreate data (frame image data) of still images respectivelycorresponding to the frames of XML data by using the conversiondictionary 107, and stores the data in the internal data memory storage104.

Specifically, the text editing section 105 is so established as tocreate, in accordance with the conversion dictionary 107, the frameimage data that is in accordance with the tags of the XML data. Inaddition, a tag not listed in the conversion dictionary 107 will not bereflected to the frame image data by the text editing section 105.

Moreover, the text editing section 105 is so established that, afterediting the XML data, the text editing section 105 modifies the frameimage data with reference to the conversion dictionary 107 depending onhow a result of the editing is.

Further, the text editing section 105 is so established that, after thelater-discussed graphic editing section edits the frame image data, thetext editing section 105 modifies the XML data with reference to theconversion dictionary 107 depending on how a result of the editing is.

The graphic editing section (image display section) 106 causes thedisplay section 103 to display the frame image data thereon. Further,the graphic editing section 106 is capable of editing the frame imagedata in response to the user instruction inputted to the input section101.

FIGS. 4( b) to 4(d) are explanatory views showing the frame image datafor the frames 1 to 3, in the XML data shown in FIG. 3. As shown inFIGS. 4( b) to 4(d), for each frame image data, the circle object 801and the rectangular object 802 are drawn in accordance with the shapeand position parameter written in each of the frames 1 to 3 of the XMLdata shown in FIG. 3.

The animation reproducing section (image display section) 109 shown inFIG. 2 reads the XML data stored in the internal data memory storage104, creates later-described animation data by using the conversiondictionary 107, and reproduces the animation data as an animation on thedisplay section 103.

Note that the animation data is time-varying image data that is inaccordance with the content of the animation prescription data such asthe XML data. Specifically, the animation reproducing section 109creates the frame image data that is in accordance with the respectiveframes of the XML data, and the still image data (intervening imagedata) for intervening frames to interpolate between the respectiveframes. Then, the animation reproducing section 109 is so established asto create, as animation data, data with which those still image data isdisplayed continuously (sequentially) per predetermined time.

The varying parameter extracting section (extracting section, varyingparameter display section 110 extracts a parameter (varying parameter)varying from one frame to the other, and displays the parameter as thetext data on the display section 103.

Examples of the varying parameter are_the varying positions, shapes,colors, and the like of the respective objects. The extracting processof the varying parameter by the varying parameter extracting section 110will be described later in detail.

The control section 102 is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit).The control section 102 has functions to control the respectiveaforementioned sections of the present animation editing apparatus so asto cause the respective sections to create and modify (edit) internaldata (the XML data and frame image data), and to create and reproducethe animation (the animation data). The control section 102 is a centralsection of the present animation editing apparatus.

Next, the display screen of the display section 103 is explained below.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view illustrating a display screen 201 of thedisplay section 103. As shown in FIG. 5, the display screen 201 isprovided with a text editing window 701, a graphic editing window 702, avarying parameter window 703, a control button group 704, a thumbnaildisplay section 705 and a tool bar 706.

The text editing window (prescription data display section 701 is awindow for the XML data. It is possible to edit the XML data displayedon the text editing window 701 by using the input section 101 (mainly akeyboard).

The graphic editing window (image display section) 702 is a displayscreen to display the still image data of the frame image data and thelike, and the animation. Moreover, the graphic editing window 702 is soestablished that it is possible to edit the displayed frame image databy means of a GUI (Graphical User Interface) by using the input section101 (mainly a mouse).

The varying parameter window (varying parameter display section) 703 isa display screen for displaying, as text data, the varying parameter ofthe object specified by the editing windows 701 and 702.

The control button group 704 is provided with bottoms for reproduction,fast-forward, rewind (fast-rewind), stop, and pause. Moreover, thecontrol button group 704 is provided with a button for switching theframe image data to be displayed, by replacing currently displayed frameimage data with frame image data displayed before or after the currentlydisplayed frame image data, in case the frame image data is displayed onthe graphic editing window 702.

The thumbnail display section 705 is a display screen for displaying athumbnail (thumbnail group) of each frame image data to be displayed onthe graphic editing window 702.

The tool bar 706 is a region for displaying various tool kits forediting the frame image data displayed on the graphic editing window702. Here, the tool kits are icon group (not shown) for drawing graphicsymbols (circle, rectangular, lines, and the like) on the graphicediting window 702.

Moreover, on the tool bar 706, displayed are icons (not shown) forinstructing creation of new frame image data, or for instructingdeletion of the frame image data.

An example of use of the display screen 201 is explained below. Forexample, in case an animation, in which the center P1 of the circleobject 801 moves from E1, E2 to E3 while the corner P2 of therectangular object 802 moves from K1, K2 to K3 at the same time as shownin FIG. 4( a), is to be created, a user selects a frame number to edit(create), by using the control button group 704 or the thumbnail displaysection 705.

Then, the user creates the frame image data as shown in FIGS. 4( b) to(d) on the graphic editing window 702, by using the tool kits of thetool bar 706. In other words, the user places the circle object 801respectively on E1 to E3, and the rectangular object 802 respectively onK1 to K3 in the frames 1 to 3.

By carrying out the above-described process, the frame image data of therespective frames 1 to 3 is updated (edited) by the graphic editingsection 106 (see FIG. 2). After that, the text editing section 105updates the XML data in accordance with the update and displays on thetest editing window 701 the XML data corresponding to the updated frameimage data.

Note that, it may be so arranged that a dialog is displayed on thegraphic editing window 702, the dialog allowing the user to input, intext format, reproduction times of the respective frames 1 to 3(alternatively, time intervals between the respective frames), so thatthe user specify the reproduction times.

Moreover, it may be so arranged that the thumbnail display section 705is provided with a scroll bar for specifying (controlling) thereproduction times of the respective frames 1 to 3 (alternatively, thetime intervals between the respective frames).

Next, explained is how the varying parameter extracting section 110extracts the varying parameter.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view illustrating an example of a display ofthe varying parameter window 703 on the display screen 201. In theexample shown in FIG. 6, the position of the circle object 801 in theanimation shown in FIG. 4( a) is extracted as varying parameterinformation 1001, and displayed.

The varying parameter extracting section 110 draws its attention to thecircle object 801 when the circle tag of the XML data shown in FIG. 3 isselected on the text editing window 701, or when the circle object 801is selected on the graphic editing window 702.

Then, the varying parameter extracting section 110 searches and extractsthe parameter to be varied in the frames 1 to 3 (in the example of FIG.4( a), the position of the center P1), and displays on the varyingparameter window 703 the parameter as the varying parameter information1001 constituted of text data.

Further, the varying parameter extracting section 110 extractsdifference values in the varying parameter between the respective frames1 to 3, and displays on the varying parameter window 703 the differencevalues as difference information 1003 constituted of text data. Here,the term “1˜2” in the difference information 1003 of FIG. 6 indicatesthat the row relates to the difference information between the frames 1and 2.

Moreover, the varying parameter extracting section 110 is so establishedthat as shown in FIG. 7 the varying parameter extracting section 110sequentially displays, on the varying parameter window 703, values ofthe varying parameter of the intervening image data (and the frame imagedata) that is currently being reproduced (displayed) on the graphicediting window 702), when the animation is reproduced while the circletag (or the circle object 801) is selected, and when the circle tag isselected during the reproduction of the animation. Here, the values ofthe varying parameter are displayed as reproduction information 1002 inaddition to the information 1001 and 1003.

Note that, as described above, the intervening image data is the stillimage data of the intervening frame for interpolating between the frameimage data. Moreover, the term “2˜I” indicates that the row relates tothe difference information between the frame 2 and the intervening framethat is currently being displayed.

Moreover, the varying parameter extracting section 110 may display, onthe varying parameter window 703, a reproduction timer 1100 as shown inFIG. 8 in the extracting process during the reproduction of theanimation, in order to indicate temporal relationship among therespective frames 1 to 3, and the reproduction times of the respectiveframes 1 to 3.

It is so arranged that a time axis 1101, respective positions T1 to T3of the frames 1 to 3, and a slider 1105 for indicating a position of aframe currently being displayed (including the intervening frame) aredisplayed on the reproduction timer 1100. The positions T1 to T3 and theslider 1105 are on the time axis 1101.

Next, explained is how the present animation editing apparatus operates.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a flow of the operation of thepresent animation editing apparatus. Note that the process illustratedin FIG. 1 is to create the frame image data and the XML data inaccordance with a user input that is done by the user, reproduce theanimation in accordance with the frame image data and the XML data, andmodify the XML data in accordance with a user input.

As shown in FIG. 1, by using the input section 101, the user creates andplaces, on the graphic editing window 702 of the display section 103, anobject composed of a dot, a line, and the like, thereby editing(creating) frame image data as shown in FIGS. 4( b) to 4(d) (S201).

In response to this, the control section 102 controls the graphicediting section 106 so as to recognize the still image data as the frameimage data, and causes the internal data memory storage 104 to store thethus recognized frame image data thereon.

Moreover, at this time, the control section 102 controls the textediting section 105 to create the XML data in accordance with the frameimage data stored in the internal data memory storage 104, and causesthe internal data memory storage 104 to store the XML data similarly.

Next the control section 102 transmits, to the animation reproducingsection 109, the XML data stored in the internal data memory storage104. Then, the control section 102 controls the animation reproducingsection 109 to create animation data from the XML data, and reproducethe animation data on the graphic editing window 702 of the displaysection 103 (S202).

After that, the user judges whether or not the thus reproduced animationis the one desired (S203). If the animation is in accordance with whathe desires, the user terminates the process.

On the other hand, if he wants to modify the animation, the usernotifies, via the input section 101, the control section 102 that hewants to modify the animation. In other words, the user clicks apredetermined position with the mouse, or inputs a predeterminedinstruction (operation) by using a keyboard.

In response to this, the control section 103 controls the graphicediting section 106 to display one of the frame image data on thegraphic editing window 702 of the display section 103.

After that, the user selects the object (object to be modified in termsof its shape and movement) by using the input section 101 (S204).

Next, the control section 102 controls the animation reproducing section109 to reproduce the animation (S205), and controls the varyingparameter extracting section 110 to extract a varying parameter of thethus selected object, and to displays the varying parameter on thevarying parameter window 703 as shown in FIG. 7 (S206).

Note that at S206 the control section 102 transmits, to the varyingparameter extracting section 110, XML data regarding the thus selectedobject. In response to this, the varying parameter extracting section110 monitors the change in the parameter of the thus selected object inthe intervening frame. Then, the varying parameter extracting section110 detects out the parameter that is varying, and displays theparameter on the varying parameter window 703.

Next, by using the stop button of the control button group 704, the userstops the animation at a scene at which he wants to edit (S207). Then,the user edits (modifies) the value of the varying parameter (S208) byediting the varying parameter information 1001, the reproductioninformation 1002, or the difference information 1003, which is displayedon the varying parameter window 703. Then, the process returns to S202.

Here, an example of the editing of the varying parameter is explained.

Assume that an X coordinate of the reproduction information 1002regarding the intervening frame shown in FIG. 7 is edited by the processof S208 to be a value shown on the varying parameter window 703 as shownin FIG. 9. The editing is, as shown in FIG. 10, to change the movementof the circle object 801 from E2 to E3.

Specifically, in the reproduction information 1002 shown in FIG. 7, itis so arranged that the circle P1 of the circle object 801 is positionedat E4 (see FIG. 10) at the reproduction time during which theintervening frame is reproduced. The editing is to change the positionof the circle object 801 at that reproduction time to E5.

When the editing is carried out, the control section 103 controls thetext editing section 105 to create a key frame in accordance with thevarying parameter thus edited, and add the key frame to the XML data(change the XML data). Further, the control section 102 controls thetext editing section 105 to create new frame image data that is inaccordance with the thus added key frame.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view illustrating changed portion of the XMLdata. The XML data after changed is identical to the XML data beforechanged (See FIG. 3), as to lines 1 to 22. In the changed portion shownin FIG. 11, the frame 3 of the XML data before changed is placed inlines 34 to 44 as a frame 4 (the addition of the new key frame updatesframe number). In lines 23 to 33, the new key frame is inserted as aframe 3.

The newly inserted frame 3 is the key frame of Time 3, at which theintervening frame in accordance with the reproduction information 1002shown in FIG. 7 (FIG. 9) is reproduced. Moreover, the frame 3 indicatesthat the circle P1 of the circle object 801 at Time 3 is placed at E5(see FIG. 10).

Further, the frame 3 indicates that the corner P2 of the rectangularobject 802 at Time 3 is placed at K4 (see FIG. 10). K4 is identical tothe position of the rectangular object 802 at Time 3 of the XML databefore changed.

Next, explained is an example where the animation shown in FIG. 4( a) isedited as shown in FIG. 12, specifically, the movement of therectangular object 802 is edited to be identical to that of the circleobject 801 (the example regards copying of movement).

As shown in FIG. 6 or 7, values of a position parameter of the circleobject 801 are listed as the varying parameter information 1001 on thevarying parameter window 703.

Thus, in order to copy the movement of the circle object 801, firstlythe user copies all values of the position parameter of the circleobject 801 (the whole varying parameter information 1001 shown in FIG.6), temporarily.

Note that the copying is realized by selecting (dragging) the wholevarying parameter information 1001 by the mouse or keyboard, and storingin a predetermined storing region (a clipboard (not shown) and the like;which may be the internal data storing section 104), which is controlledby the control section 102.

Thereafter, the user specifies the rectangular tag or the rectangularobject 802 on the text editing window 701 or the graphic editing window702. By doing this, the values of the position parameter of therectangular object 802 are displayed as the varying parameterinformation 1001 on the varying parameter window 703.

Then, the values of the position parameter of the circle object 801temporarily stored are pasted (overwritten) on the values of theposition parameter of the rectangular object 802 displayed as thevarying parameter information 1001. By doing this, the movement of therectangular object 802 is edited to be identical to that of the circleobject 801.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view of the XML data thus edited. As shown inFIG. 13, the values of the position parameter of the circle object 801written in lines 4, 15 and 26 are overwritten as the values of theposition parameter of the rectangular object 802 in lines 8, 19, and 30,in the XML data after edited.

Next, explained is an example where the animation shown in FIG. 4( a) isedited as shown in FIG. 14, specifically, the movement of therectangular object 802 is edited to be parallel to that of the circleobject 801 (the example regards copying of movement vector).

As shown in FIG. 6 (or 7), the difference values of the positionparameter of the circle object 801 are listed (displayed side by side)as the varying parameter information 1001 on the varying parameterwindow 703.

Firstly, the user temporarily copies the whole difference information1003 of the circle object 801 shown in FIG. 15. Then, the user specifiesthe rectangular tag or the rectangular object 802 on the editing windows701 and 702. By doing this, the difference values of the positionparameter of the rectangular object 802 as the difference information1003 on the varying parameter window 703.

Then, the difference values of the circle object 801 temporarily storedare pasted (overwritten) on those of the rectangular object 802displayed as the difference information 1003. By doing this, themovement of the rectangular object 802 is edited to be parallel to thatof the circle object 801 (so as to move from K1, K5, to K6). In short,the movement vector (vector of action) of the rectangular object 802 isedited to be similar to that of the circle object 801.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory view of the XML data thus edited. As shown inFIG. 16, in the XML data after edited, written in lines 19 and 30 arethe values, which are worked out by adding the difference values shownin FIG. 15 to the values of the position parameter of the rectangularobject 802 written in line 8.

Moreover, it is possible to carry out the copying of the differencevalues by specifying the frames. For example, by copying the differencevalues of the position parameter of the rectangular object 802 to theframe 2 and the later frames of the object 802, the animation as shownin FIG. 17 is created.

Moreover, in this case, if movement velocity (speed) of the rectangularobject 802 is to be set to be identical to that of the circle object801, such movement speed is attained by editing such that K11 is at aposition of 2 seconds after the start, and K13 is at a position of 5seconds after the start, as shown in FIG. 18. In addition, the movementspeed may not be taken in consideration.

As described above, the present animation editing apparatus is soestablished that the varying parameter extracting section 110 extracts,from the XML data, the varying parameter regarding the changes inconditions of the objects in the animation, and that the text editingsection 105 modifies the thus extracted varying parameter in accordancewith the user instruction, and updates the XML data by using the thusmodified varying parameter. With this arrangement, it is possible toedit the animation in accordance with the user instruction.

As described above, the present animation editing apparatus is soestablished that only the varying parameter is selectively extracted outof the XML data. With this arrangement, it is possible to edit theanimation more easily, compared with the case where the whole XML datais edited directly.

Moreover, the present animation editing apparatus is so arranged thatthe object for which the varying parameter is extracted can be specifiedby using the editing windows 701 and 702. In short, only the varyingparameter regarding the object that is requested by the user can beextracted. With this arrangement, it is possible to reduce an amount ofthe varying parameter to be extracted, thereby making it possible toedit the animation more easily.

Moreover, the present editing apparatus is so arranged that the varyingparameter extracted by the varying parameter extracting section 110 isdisplayed on the varying parameter window 703, and the text editingsection 105 modifies the varying parameter on the window 703 inaccordance with the user input. In short, the thus displayed varyingparameter is directly modified. With this arrangement, the editingprocess of the animation is easier than the arrangement in which theparameter is changed by defining and selecting a command or an instance.

Moreover, the present animation editing apparatus is so established thatthe varying parameter displayed on the varying parameter window 703 isstored (copied) and modification of the varying parameter is carried outby using the varying parameter thus stored. Thus, the user can modifythe varying parameter simply by using the stored value.

Moreover, when the animation is reproduced on the graphic editing window702, the varying parameter extracting section 110 sequentially displaysthe values of the varying parameter of the object in the animation. Thisarrangement enables the user to follow how the varying parameterchanges, so that the value (value of the parameter) to be used for themodification can be easily envisaged.

Note that, in the present embodiment, the varying parameter extractingsection 110 extracts the varying parameter of the thus selected objectand displays the varying parameter on the varying parameter window 703.However, in case objects are closely related to each other, the presentinvention is not limited to this.

For example, frame image data for a character object 604 composed of ahead object 601 and a body object 602 is placed on a trolley object 603as shown in FIG. 19 has a data structure (internal data structure) asshown in FIG. 20.

Specifically, in the frame image data, the character object 603 is achild object of the trolley object. Further, the head object 601 and thebody object 602 are child objects of the character object 604.

In this case, a position parameter (movement) of the trolley object 603has influence on a position parameter of the character object 604.Meanwhile, a position parameter of the character object 604 hasinfluence on a position parameter of the head object 601 and the bodyobject 602.

Therefore, when the head object 601 is selected, it is preferable thatthe varying parameter extracting section 110 draws its attention to(supervises) the position parameter of the character object 604 and thetrolley object 603.

It is preferable that the varying parameter extracting section 110 is soestablished that in case the position parameter of the head object 601is changed according how the position parameters of the objects 603 and604 change, (in case the change in those of the objects 603 and 604affect the positional parameter of the heat object 601), the change isdisplayed on the varying parameter window 703, even if there is nochange as to the head object 601 itself.

Note that objects and tags (tags of the XML data) correspond to eachother. Thus, it is easy to display (in a text format) on the textediting window 701 or the varying parameter window 703 a tag of aselected object, a tag of an object that influence thus selected objectand its content (content of a parameter).

Moreover, in order to cause the circle object 801 to reach at theposition shown in FIG. 4( b) at a time currently reproduced(reproduction time of the intervening frame; the time indicated by theslider 1105 of FIG. 8), the content of the frame 3 in the varyingparameter information 1001 may be copied to the reproduction information1002. By doing this, a key frame regarding the current reproduction timeis newly generated. A result of the creation of the key frame reflectson the frame image data and the XML data. This arrangement realizesanimation editing as desired.

Moreover, in the present embodiment the extracted varying parameters arelisted on the varying parameter windows 703 as the varying parameterinformation 1001. However, the present embodiment is not limited tothis. It may be so arranged that only the reproduction information 1002is displayed on the varying parameter window 703.

In this case, for example, if the movement of the rectangular object 802is to be set to be similar to that of the circle object 801, thefollowing process is carried out. Specifically, all the varyingparameters (positions) of the circle object 801 to be displayed in thereproduction information 1002. Then, the varying parameters (positions)of the rectangular object 802 are displayed as the reproductioninformation 1002, and the copied parameters are overwritten on thereproduction information 1002.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, discussed is the example where thevarying parameters shown in the reproduction information 1002 on thevarying parameter window 703 are modified. It may be so arranged as tomodify the varying parameter information 1001. Moreover, it is possibleto copy the content of the reproduction information 1002 onto part (orall) of the varying parameter information 1001. This arrangementrealizes modification of a varying parameter of an existing frame.Moreover, in case the varying parameter information 1001 is temporarilystored (copied), it is possible to modify the content of the varyingparameter information 1001 right before the copying.

Moreover, the varying parameter extracting section 110 may be soestablished as to extract only the varying parameters of the selectedframe and the later frame. Further, it may be so arranged that thevarying parameter extracting section 110 extracts only the varyingparameters of the selected frame and frames before and after theselected frame. Moreover, the varying parameter extracting section 110may be so established as to display, as the reproduction information1002, the information other than the varying parameter, and as to becapable of editing the information other than the varying parameter.

Moreover, it may be so arranged that the extracted varying parameter andportion other than the extracted varying parameter are displayedtogether. In this case, it is preferable that the varying parameter hasa display format different from that of the portion (such as the XMLdata displayed on the text editing window 701), in terms of size, color,font, letter modification (such as type face and letter character's linewidth) and the like of letter characters, thereby displaying the varyingparameter with emphasis.

In short, the varying parameter extracting section 110 is preferably soestablished that the varying parameter information 1001 on the varyingparameter window 703 is set (modified) to have a different displayformat than that of the text (XML data) of the text editing window 701.However, the setting (modification) is not inevitably necessary.

Moreover, the varying parameter extracting section 110 may be soestablished as to extract characteristic information or movementinformation of the object. Here, the characteristic information is avarying parameter regarding a change in the object not associated withmovement of a central position of the object, meanwhile the movementinformation is a varying parameter regarding a change in the objectassociated with such movement of the central position of the object.

Moreover, it may be so arranged that the characteristic information isinformation regarding color or information regarding shape such ascoordinate values of corners of a polygon, color of regions, and whethera plurality of points are jointed with a curve (for example sinfunction) or with a straight line. Further, it may be so arranged thatthe movement information is information regarding a difference in acoordinate value between frames.

Furthermore, the present embodiment is so arranged that the varyingparameter extracting section 110 shows the reproduction time (timeperiod of the reproduction) by using the reproduction timer 110.However, the present embodiment, which is not limited to this, may be soarranged that the reproduction time is shown by using a counter.

Moreover, it may be so arranged that the XML data includes a command forinstructing to repeatedly reproduce a frame so that the varyingparameter extracting section 110 extracts and displays the command onthe varying parameter window 703.

With this arrangement, it is possible to edit the command (parameter ofthe command) in the same fashion as the varying parameter. Moreover, thecommand may be information regarding how the frames relate with eachother, such as an animation in which an animation between specificframes is repeated in a specific number of time.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, the text data (XML data) in the XML(Extensible Markup Language) format is used as the animationprescription data. However, data capable of being used as the animationprescription data in the present animation editing apparatus is notlimited to the XML data. In other words, the changing the content of theconversion dictionary 107 allows the present animation editing apparatusto use data in any format.

Especially, it is preferable that the present animation editingapparatus uses, as the animation prescription data, text data written ina strict rule. The use of such data realizes easy creation (preparation)of the conversion dictionary 107.

Here, it can be so put that the text data written in a strict rule isdata whose data structure can be understood in a single meaning, andwhich is tagged with tags that are understandable to human, (so as toread an application). Moreover, it is preferable that text data that isrecognizable to the present animation editing apparatus is used as theanimation prescription data.

Moreover, the user of the text data eliminates a need of converting theanimation data or the varying parameter into a data formatunderstandable to the user in order to display the animationprescription data or the varying parameter on the text editing window701 or the varying parameter window 703. Therefore, the use of the textdata has such an advantage that the use of the text data attains easydisplay of the data.

Moreover, in case the animation prescription data is not text data, itis preferable that the animation data or the varying parameter isconverted into a data format understandable to the user, in order todisplay the animation prescription data or the varying parameter on thetext editing window 701 or the varying parameter window 703.

Further, any type of reproduction engines may be used as the animationreproducing section 109 of the present animation editing apparatus.Moreover, if the reproduction engine is changed, it is preferable thatthe content of the conversion dictionary 107 is changed, as in the casethe animation prescription data is changed.

Moreover, the frame image data (internal data) to be stored in theinternal data memory storage 104 is a combination of the command codeand the parameter. Therefore, the command code corresponding to the XMLdata is changed depending on the value of the parameter.

For example, in case of a circle object, if its radius parameter has avalue of 5 cm or less, its command code has four controlling points (acircle having four controlling points is created).On the other hand, ifits radius parameter has a value of 5 cm or more, its command code haseight controlling points (a circle having eight controlling points iscreated).

Moreover, in the present embodiment, the control section 102 is composedof a CPU. However, it may be so arranged that a single CPU constitutesthe control section 102, the text editing section 105, the graphicediting section 106, the animation reproducing section 109, and thevarying parameter extracting section 110 of the present animationediting apparatus.

Moreover, similarly, it may be so arranged that a single memory storageconstitutes the internal data memory storage 104, the conversiondictionary 107, and the memory storage for temporarily storing thecontent of the varying parameter information 1001, the reproducinginformation 1002, and the difference information 1003, of the presentembodiment.

Moreover, in the present animation editing apparatus, the animationreproducing section 109 creates, in accordance with the key frames, theimage intervening between the key frames by interpolating, therebycreating the animation data. However, the present animation editingapparatus, which is not limited to this, may be so arranged that theanimation is reproduced simply by using the still image data (frameimage data) that is in accordance with the key frames.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, the animation reproducing section109 creates the frame image data for the respective frames in the XMLdata, and the intervening image data for interpolating between therespective frames, and displays continuously (sequentially) the stillimage data of the frame image data for respective frames and theintervening image data per predetermined time.

In addition to this arrangement, the present animation editing apparatusmay be so arranged that the animation reproducing section 109 interpretsthe XML data with a degree of freedom. This arrangement attains betterinterpolation and filtering in accordance with the XML data.

For example, in case the XML data stores that an object located at pointA at 0 second is moved to point B at 3 second, and to point C at 5second, the animation reproducing section 109 can, with thisarrangement, create intervening image data for indicting that the objectis at an intervening point (between points A and B) at 1 second.

Moreover, the animation reproducing section 109 creates such animationdata in which the object at point B at 3 second is not displayed, forexample. Further, it may be so arranged that a flag is provided in theXML data, the flag indicating that the degree of freedom is given to thedata interpretation carried out by the animation reproducing section109.

Further, it may be so arranged that a plurality of sets of animationdata are prepared so that the animation reproducing section 109 canchange the animation to display on the graphic editing window 702 inaccordance with a user instruction to select the sets by mouse-clickingor the like operation.

Moreover, it may be so arranged that the animation reproducing section109 creates animation data including a plurality sets of animation data.In other words, it may be so arranged that a plurality sets of animationdata are created so that selected one(s) of the plurality sets ofanimation data by the user instruction to select is displayed.

Moreover, it may be so arranged that when creating the animation data inaccordance with the XML data, the animation reproducing section 109creates animation data in which a display sequence of the frame imagedata may be changed in the XML data, and specific frame image data isrepeatedly displayed.

Moreover, it may be so arranged that the animation reproducing section109 creates, as animation data, such data with which one still imagedata (frame image data or intervening image data) is overlapped onanother still image data as displayed as such.

For example, by using still image data A, B, and C, still image dataprepared by overlapping the still image data B on the still image data Aas a background, may be set as single image data (A+B). Moreover, inthis case, it is possible to create still image data (A+C) in which thestill image data A is the background and the still image data C isoverlapped thereon, substituting the still image data B.

Moreover, the animation reproducing section 109 can create, as theanimation data, such animation data in which the still image data (A+B)and the still image data (A+C) are displayed sequentially.

In case such animation data is created, it may be so arranged that theanimation reproducing section 109 prepares the still image data (A+B)and (A+C) in advance. Moreover, there may be created such animation thatthe still image data (A+B) and the still image data C are prepared, sothat the still image data C is overlapped on the still image data (A+B)after the still image data (A+B) is displayed.

In short, the animation data of the present animation editing apparatusmay be time-varying image data, which is obtained by replacing, withanother still image data, still image data overlapped on still imagedata that is background.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, a time-varying image editingapparatus of the present invention is used as the apparatus (the presentanimation editing apparatus) for editing (creating/modifying) theanimation by using the XML data as the animation prescription data.

However, the time-varying image editing apparatus of the presentinvention may edit and reproduce, not only animation, but also othertime-varying image. It should be noted that the present animationediting apparatus is merely a preferable embodiment.

Examples of time-varying images that the time-varying image editingapparatus of the present invention can deal with are (a) actual stillimage data in data format, such as JPEG (Joint Photographic ExpertGroup), PNG (Portable Network Graphics), and BMP (Bitmap);and (b)time-varying image data including, per frame, one or more actualtime-varying image data, such as MPEG (Motion Picture Expert Group) andAVI (Audio Video Interleaving). It is also possible for the time-varyingimage editing apparatus of the present invention to deal withtime-varying image data in which an animation is mixed therein.

Moreover, an example of the prescription data that the time-varyingimage editing apparatus of the present invention is the SMIL(Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language), besides the XML data.

SMIL data is a markup (tagging) language in which an still image, atime-varying image, position of music data (time and layout) are writtenas XML subsets.

If the SMIL data is used, it is possible to specify, for example, todisplay the still (time-varying) image data in a region surrounded bycoordinates A and B in a period between 3 seconds and 5 seconds afterthe start, or to display only an upper-half of the still (time-varying)image data. Further, it is also possible to specify to display a portionof the time-varying image (music) data between 2 second and 3 second, orto reproduce another time-varying image (music) data after apredetermined time from an end of the time-varying image (music) data.

As described above, for the SMIL data, the prescription data (display ofthe time-varying image) is created by following concept of object, butnot concept of key frame. In the SMIL data, written is informationindicating relationship between time and behavior (parameter) of anobject (information indicating a parameter of the object at each time).

For this reason, the user select a time, in order to edit a time-varyingimage based on the SMIL data. In response to this, the time-varyingimage editing apparatus of the present invention extracts an object (orits parameter), which is so written that the object changes its behaviorat the selected time (in short, the SMIL data has such a data structurewith which such extraction is easily carried out).

Therefore, it is preferable that an object specifying section of thetime-varying image editing apparatus of the present invention is capableof specifying, in accordance with a user instruction to select a time,an object whose varying parameter is to be extracted (the object havinga parameter to be varied at the selected time).

Moreover, it is also possible that the SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)data is used as the prescription data. The SVG data is also a markuplanguage in which a two dimensional graphic is written as XML subsets.Similarly to the SMIL data, the SVG data allows easy extraction of theobject or the parameter.

Shown in FIG. 21 is an example of the SVG data (this example is pickedup from the specification form of the SVG).

In the data shown in FIG. 21, the bold portion is a portion (primeportion). A portion sandwiched between the bold characters is a portion(parameter-changed portion) in which a parameter of a rectangular shapeis changed.

In the first tag “animate” of the parameter-changed portion, it isindicated that the variable (parameter) x is animated from 300 (from) to0 (to) within a period between 0 second (begin) to 9 second (dur), andis frozen (fill) after the animation is ended. Moreover, in another“animate” tag, it is indicated that another variable is animated withina period between 0 second to 9 second.

The time-varying image editing apparatus of the present invention is soarranged that, in case the period between 0 and 9 is selected, the primeportion and the parameter-changed portion are extracted and displayedshowing that the variables for the x, y, width, and height of “rect” inthe prime portion have been changed, with color and layout of thevariables changed and with indication as to how they are associated witheach other.

Further, it is preferable that a frame image that is to be displayed atthe selected time is displayed when the user selects the time. It isfurther preferable that in the image an object having a changedparameter is highlighted by changing a outer line of the object in termsof its line type or color.

Next, an example of the SMIL data is shown in FIG. 22. In the data, the“par” tags indicate that times of the “audio” tag and the “img” tag,which are sandwiched by the “par” tags are to go in parallel. Assumingthe “par” tags have a starting time of t second, the “audio2 tag startsplaying the “audio1” file from (t+6) second, and the “img” tag displaysthe “image1” file from (t+10) second, which is 4 seconds after the startof the “audio” tag as specified by the “id” attribute. In this case, thetime-varying image editing apparatus (editor) of the present inventionis so arranged that the “begin” attribute of the “img” tag is convertedto “begin=“10s”” and displayed. Here, it is possible to used a graphicaldisplay, such as a time sheet.

Moreover, for use of the prescription data in any one of the XML data,SMIL data, and SVG data, it is preferable that the time-varying imageediting apparatus of the present invention extracts a variableindicating an interpolating method when creating the intervening frame,if the prescription data includes such variable.

For example, in case the prescription data includes a key frame in whichan object moves from point A, point B to point C, an intervening framecreated by interpolating with a straight line has different content asthat created by interpolating with a curve line. Moreover, the contentof the intervening frame is subjective to temporal interpolation,besides the positional interpolation.

Assume that there are a key frame for indicating a condition in which aball bounds up maximally (top condition), and a key frame for indicatinga condition in which a ball touches a ground (ground condition), forcreating time-varying image data for a time-varying image in which aball is bounding. In this case, the ball has a fastest speed in itsground condition, and a slowest speed in its top condition. Therefore,in this case, it is preferable that an interpolation curve forexpressing the speed is prescribed in the prescription data (or that anattribute for deciding a type of the interpolation is included in theprescription data). Further, it is preferable that the time-varyingimage editing apparatus of the present invention extracts theinterpolation curve (or the attribute) and creates the intervening framein accordance with the interpolation curve (or the attribute).

Note that the specification forms of the SVG and the SMIL is availableat the home page of W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) for browsing anddownloading (SVG;http://www.w3.org/TR/2000/CR-SVG-20001102/ind ex.html,SMIL;http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-smil/).

Moreover, the present embodiment is so arranged that the editing processof the animation (creating process of the animation) of the presentanimation editing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is carried out under controlby the control section 102.

However, the present invention is not limited to this. It may be soarranged that a program for the animation editing process is stored in arecording medium, and an information processing apparatus capable ofreading the program is used instead of the control section 102 (andfurther, the text editing section 105, the graphic editing section 106,and the animation reproducing section 109, and the varying parameterextracting section 110).

In this arrangement, an arithmetic unit (such as a CPU or an MPU (MicroProcessing Unit) of the information processing apparatus reads theprogram stored in the recording medium, and carries out the animationediting process. Therefore, it can be said that the program itselfrealizes the animation editing process.

Here, as the information processing apparatus, a portable terminalapparatus, a feature expansion board or a feature expansion unit to beattached tot a computer can be used, beside a general computer (workstation or a personal computer).

Moreover, the program is a program code (such as a program in executionform, an intermediate code program, and a source program) of softwarewith which the animation editing process is realized. The program may bea program to be used solely or a program to be used in combination withanother program (such as an OS (operation System)). Moreover, theprogram may be a program that is temporally stored in a memory (such asa RAM) in the apparatus after being read out of the recording medium,and then is read out again for execution.

Moreover, the recording medium for storing the program may be arecording medium that can be separated from the information processingapparatus easily, or may be a recording medium that is fixed (mounted)onto the apparatus. Further, the recording medium may be an externalrecording apparatus to be connected to the apparatus.

Applicable as such recording media are a magnetic tape, such as a videotape and a cassette tape; a magnetic disc such as a floppy disc and ahard disc; an optical disc (magneto-optical disc) such as a CD-ROM, anMO, an MD, a DVD, and a CD-R; a memory card such as an IC card and anoptical card; and a semiconductor memory such as a mask ROM, an EPROM,and a flush ROM.

Moreover, it may be so arranged as to use a recording medium connectedto the information processing apparatus via a network (such as theintranet and the internet). In this case, the information processingapparatus obtains the program by downloading it via the network. Inother words, it may be so arranged that the program is obtained via atransmission medium (a medium for transmissively holding a program) ofthe network (that is connected to a wire or wireless line). In addition,it is preferable that a program for the downloading is stored in theapparatus in advance.

Moreover, the thumbnail display section 705 shown in FIG. 5 may have afunction to display a thumbnail (a thumbnail group) of the frame imagedata that is in accordance with the XML data displayed on the editingwindow (prescription data display section) 701.

Furthermore, it may be so arranged that the slider 1105 is displayed onthe reproducing timer 1100 (see FIG. 8) displayed on the varyingparameter window 703, the slider 1105 indicating the time axis 1101, thepositions T1 to T3 of the respective frames 1 to 3 on the time axis1101, and the intervening frame that is currently being reproduced onthe graphic editing window 702. Moreover, it is possible to express theanimation editing apparatus of the present invention as an animationediting apparatus for editing a time-varying image by using prescriptiondata including a parameter that prescribes a condition of an object inthe time-varying image, the time-varying image editing apparatusincluding an input section for receiving a user instruction; anextracting section for extracting, from the prescription data, a varyingparameter that regards a change in the condition of the object in thetime-varying image; and a modifying section for modifying the thusextracted varying parameter in accordance with the user instruction, andupdating the prescription data by using the thus modified varyingparameter.

Furthermore, it is possible to express the present invention as atransmission medium for transmissively transmitting a computer programfor an animation editing process for editing an animation by usingprescription data including a parameter that prescribes a condition ofan object in the animation, the transmission medium transmissivelytransmitting a computer program for the animation editing process,wherein the computer program is so established as to extract, from theprescription data, a varying parameter that regards a change in thecondition of the object in the animation, modify the thus extractedvarying parameter in accordance with the user instruction, and updatethe prescription data by using the thus modified varying parameter.

As described above, a time-varying image editing apparatus (the presentediting apparatus) of the present invention for editing a time-varyingimage by using prescription data including a parameter that prescribes acondition of an object in the time-varying image, is provided with aninput section for receiving a user instruction; an extracting sectionfor extracting, from the prescription data, a varying parameter thatregards a change in the condition of the object in the time-varyingimage; and a modifying section for modifying the thus extracted varyingparameter in accordance with the user instruction, and updating theprescription data by using the thus modified varying parameter.

The present editing apparatus is an apparatus for editing a time-varyingimage (such as an animation and the like) by using computer graphics. Itis generally so arranged that the time-varying image is created inaccordance with data that prescribes a shape or movement of an object inthe image (an object displayed in the image; character). Thus, thepresent editing apparatus is so arranged as to use the prescription dataso as to edit the time-varying image.

Especially, the present editing apparatus is so arranged as to use theextracting section so as to extract, from the prescription data, thevarying parameter that regards the change in the condition of the objectin the time-varying image.

To say specifically, parameters that prescribe a shape, movement, acolor or the like of the respective objects are generally written in theprescription data. Moreover, some of the parameters of the objects arechanged in accordance with the change in the condition of the objects inthe time-varying image (such as positions of the objects), while othersthat have no relation with the change, are not to be varied (such asnames of the objects). The present editing apparatus is so arranged thata parameter to be varied is extracted, as a varying parameter, from theprescription data.

Then, the modifying section modifies the extracted varying parameter inaccordance with a user instruction. Further, the modifying sectionupdates the prescription data of the time-varying image by using thethus modified varying parameter. With this arrangement, it is possibleto edit the time-varying image in accordance with the user instruction.

As described above, the present editing apparatus is so established asto selectively extract only the varying parameter from the prescriptiondata. With this arrangement, it is possible to edit the time-varyingimage more easily than an arrangement in which the whole prescriptiondata is directly edited.

Moreover, it is preferable that the present editing apparatus isprovided with an object specifying section for specifying, in accordancewith the user instruction, an object whose varying parameter is to beextracted, and the extracting section is so established as to extractthe varying parameter of the object specified by the object specifyingsection.

With this arrangement, it is possible to extract only the varyingparameter that regards the object that is requested by the user. Thus,it is possible to reduce an amount of the varying parameter to beextracted, thereby attaining easier editing of the time-varying image.

Moreover, in the arrangement, it is preferable that the present editingapparatus is provided with a prescription data display section fordisplaying the prescription data. Further, it is preferably so arrangedthat a user can select one (or a plurality) of objects via the inputsection by using the thus displayed prescription data.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the object specifying section is soestablished as to specify the thus selected object as an object whosevarying parameter is to be extracted. This arrangement enables the userto easily select the object which he requests.

Moreover, in the arrangement, it may be so adopted that the presentediting apparatus is provided with an image display section fordisplaying an image (a time-varying image or part (still image) of atime-varying image) that is in accordance with the prescription data. Inthis case, it is preferably so arranged that a user can select one (or aplurality) of objects via the input section by using the thus displayedimage.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the object specifying section is soestablished as to specify the thus selected object as an object whosevarying parameter is to be extracted. This arrangement also enables theuser to easily select the object that he requests.

Moreover, in this case, it is preferable that the image display sectionincludes a conversion dictionary for creating, from the prescriptiondata, an image. In the conversion dictionary, the grammar of theprescription data and the grammar of the image data (data composed ofcodes for displaying the image) are written in such a manner that thegrammars correspond to each other. This makes it easier to realize theaforementioned arrangement.

Furthermore, with such an arrangement that the conversion dictionary isexchangeable, use of a conversion dictionary that is in accordance witha changed format of the prescription data or the image data ensures easyimage creation, even if the format of the prescription data or the imagedata is changed.

Moreover, it may be so arranged that the present editing apparatus isprovided with a varying parameter display section for displaying thevarying parameter thus extracted by the extracting section. In thiscase, it is preferable that the modifying section is so established asto modify, in accordance with a user input, the varying parameter, andcause the varying parameter display section to display the thus modifiedvarying parameter.

With this arrangement, the displayed varying parameter is directlymodified. Thus, it is possible to carry out the editing process of thetime-varying image more easily than the arrangement in which theparameter is changed by defining and selecting the command or instance.

Moreover, in this case, it is preferable that there provided is a memorystorage for storing thereon the varying parameter that has beendisplayed on the varying parameter display section. It is furtherpreferable that the modifying section is so established as to be capableof modifying the varying parameter by using content stored in the memorystorage.

This arrangement allows the user to modify the varying parameter simplyby instructing the modifying section to use a value stored in (copiedto) the memory storage. In other words, it is not necessary to input, byusing an input apparatus such as a keyboard or the like, how eachvarying parameter is to be modified.

With this arrangement, it is possible to significantly facilitate easymodification of the varying parameter, in case an amount of modification(an amount of the varying parameter to be modified) is so much.

Moreover, it may also be so arranged that all varying parameters of agiven object are stored so that the varying parameters can be used asvarying parameters of another object. With this arrangement, it ispossible to very easily cause the different objects to have identicalvarying parameters.

Moreover, in case the time-varying image (time-varying image inaccordance with the prescription data) is displayed on the image displaysection, it is preferable that the varying parameter display section isso established as to sequentially display values of the varyingparameter of the object in the time-varying image. This arrangementallows the user to follow how the varying parameter is changed, thusenabling the user to easily envisage the value (value of the parameter)to be used for the modification.

Moreover, it is preferable that the varying parameter display section isso established as to display the varying parameter in a display formatdifferent from a display format in which the prescription data displaysection displays the prescription data, when displaying the varyingparameter. Here, the display format includes a size, color, font, lettermodification (such as type face and letter character's line width) ofletter characters, for example. With this arrangement, it is possible todisplay the varying parameter with emphasis.

Furthermore, the present editing apparatus is preferably arranged suchthat data in a text format is used as the prescription data. Thisarrangement eliminates a need of converting the prescription data or thevarying parameter, which is part of the prescription data, so as to bedata having a format that is recognizable to the user. This attains easydisplay of the data.

Moreover, a time-varying image editing method (the present editingmethod) of the present invention for editing a time-varying image byusing prescription data including a parameter that prescribes acondition of an object in the time-varying image, includes the steps ofextracting, from the prescription data, a varying parameter that regardsa change in the condition of the object in the time-varying image;modifying the thus extracted varying parameter in accordance with a userinstruction; and updating the prescription data by using the thusmodified varying parameter.

The present editing method is an editing method used by the presentediting apparatus described above. Specifically, the present editingmethod is so arranged that, in the step of extracting, the varyingparameter that regards the change in the condition of the object in thetime-varying image is extracted from the prescription data.

Then, in the step of the modifying, the thus extracted varying parameteris modified in accordance with the user instruction. Furthermore, in thestep of updating, the prescription data of the time-varying image isupdated by using the thus modified varying parameter. With thisarrangement it is possible to edit the time-varying image in accordancewith the user instruction.

As described above, the present editing method is so established as toselectively extract only the varying parameter from the prescriptiondata. With this arrangement, it is possible to edit the time-varyingimage more easily than the case where the whole prescription data isdirectly edited.

Moreover, a recording medium of the present invention storing thereon acomputer program for a time-varying image editing process for editing atime-varying image by using prescription data including a parameter thatprescribes a condition of an object in the time-varying image, therecording medium storing thereon a computer program being operable toeffect the process of extracting, from the prescription data, a varyingparameter that regards a change in the condition of the object in thetime-varying image; modifying the thus extracted varying parameter inaccordance with a user instruction; and updating the prescription databy using the thus modified varying parameter.

It is possible to easily realize the aforementioned present editingapparatus and the present editing method by causing a control apparatusof a general information processing apparatus, such as a personalcomputer and the like, to read the recording medium.

Moreover, the internal data memory storage 104 shown in FIG. 2 may be atext data memory storage, which is composed of a RAN or the like, forstoring thereon data that is edited by the input section 101 and isnecessary for the reproduction of the animation. Moreover, the internaldata memory storage 104 may store thereon information such as a commandcode or a parameter of the present animation editing apparatus.

Furthermore, the text editing section 105 may be so arranged as to (a)reflect a change in text to the internal data memory storage 104 byreferring to the conversion dictionary 107, and (b) display a text towhich the change in the content of the internal data memory storage 104is reflected, by being controlled by the control section 102, and byreferring to the conversion dictionary 107, when the graphic editingsection 106 changes the internal data memory storage section 104.

Further, the graphic editing section 106 may be controlled by thecontrol section 102, and graphically display the content of the internaldata memory storage 104 on the display section 103 so as to allow toedit the content. Furthermore, the graphic editing section 106 may be soarranged as to (a) reflect a change in a graphic to the internal datamemory storage 104, and (b) display a graphic to which the change in thecontent of the internal data memory storage 104 is reflected, by beingcontrolled by the control section 102 and by referring to the conversiondictionary 107, when the text editing section 105 changes the internaldata.

Moreover, the conversion dictionary 107 may be a prescription data-usememory storage section in which a corresponding table for the grammar ofthe text and the graphic is stored. Furthermore, the present animationediting apparatus may be provided with a text/graphic converting sectionfor synchronizing, with the internal data memory storage 104, thecontent of the editing carried out by the editing sections 105 and 106,by referring to the conversion dictionary 107.

Moreover, the varying parameter extracting section 110 may be soarranged as to extract text data including a parameter that regards themovement, and display the text data on the display section 103.Furthermore, the varying parameter extracting section 110 may be soarranged as to extract text data including a parameter that affects aspecified object (attributes such as position, color and the like), anddisplays the text data on the display section 103. Moreover, it is alsopossible to arranged such that one or a plurality of only the attributessuch as position, color and the like are extracted. In addition, it ismore preferable to specify on the text data than specifying graphically.On the text data, the specifying is easily carried out simply byspecifying tags.

Moreover, it can be said that FIGS. 3 and 4 show a display image of thepresent animation editing apparatus. Furthermore, in the presentembodiment (FIG. 3 and the like), it can be said that a beginning tagand an ending tag of the XML data correspond to each other sequentially,and the ending tag is spelled out by adding “/” in front of the spellingof the beginning tag.

Further, in case such an animation that the circle object 801 moves fromE1, E2, to E3, and at the same time the rectangular object 802 movesfrom K1, K2, to K3 as shown in FIG. 4( a), is to be created, it may beso arranged that a frame is created by using the tool bar 706, and theframe is selected by using the control button group 704 or the thumbnaildisplay section 705. Moreover, it may be so arranged that a dialog forinputting, in a text format, the time between the frames is established,when creating the frames as shown in FIGS. 4( b) to 4(d). In addition,it may be so arranged that the thumbnail display section 705 is providedwith a scroll bar for controlling the time between the frames.

Moreover, the text editing window 701 shown in FIG. 5 may be so arrangedas to display text data so that the animation is edited in text (byusing mainly a keyboard). Further, the graphic editing window 702 may beso arranged as to display a graphic so that the animation is edited by aGUI (by using mainly a mouse). Furthermore, the varying parameter window703 may be so arranged as to extract a text portion, which changesattribute information, which is position information, color, or thelike, of an object specified by the editing windows 701 and 702, and todisplay the text portion.

It can be said that FIG. 6 is a view to explain regions displayed on thevarying parameter window 703. Moreover, it may be so arranged that thevarying parameter regarding the circle in the respective frames isextracted and displayed by selecting the circle tag in case of the textediting window 701, or a graphic of the circle in case of the graphicediting window 702, so that a portion regarding the positional change ofthe circle as shown in FIG. 6 is the varying parameter information 1001.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 7, it may be so arranged that in theintervening frame currently displayed during the reproduction of theanimation, an interpolating value of a tag extracted as the varyingparameter information 1001 is displayed in the reproduction information1002, while a frame displayed in the varying parameter information 1001,and a difference between the respective frames of the reproductioninformation 1002 are displayed in the difference information 1003.

Moreover, it can be said that FIG. 1 is a view schematicallyillustrating a process flow of the present animation editing apparatus.Moreover, it may be so arranged that as S201 the user locates an objectsuch as a point, a line, and the like, in a plurality of key frames byusing the input section 101, and the control section 103 updates data ofthe internal data memory storage 104 in accordance with editing data ofthe text editing section 105 or the graphic editing section 106, inresponse to the input of the input section 101.

Furthermore, it may be so arranged that, at S206 in FIG. 1( a), thecontrol section 102 sends input data of the selected object to thevarying parameter extracting section 110, so that the varying parameterextracting section 110 supervises a parameter regarding the object, and(b) the parameter for interpolating the key frames and displays on thedisplay section 103 the parameter to be varied.

Moreover, in case the varying parameter is not aligned as the varyingparameter information 1001 shown in FIG. 7, it is possible to realizecopying of the movement by providing a menu for copying the wholecontent of the object displayed in the reproduction information 1002. Inaddition, in case the case the varying parameter is aligned as thevarying parameter information 1001, it is possible to carry out thecopying after performing the editing process.

Furthermore, in case the rectangular shape in the frame 2 is copied sothat the difference value is copied onto the rectangular shape, vectorsof movement from K1, K11, K12, to K13, as shown in FIG. 17, are copied.Here, if speed of the movement is also to be copied, the updating isperformed so that, as shown in FIG. 18, K11 is a position for 2 secondsafter the start, and K13 is a position for 5 seconds after the start.Values of the frames may be updated with the speed of the movementignored.

Moreover, as to the command, for example, for repeating frames, it ispossible to change the command in terms of a parameter such as a numberof the repeating, as the parameter for the coordinate, and the like arevaried. Here, in order to indicate which frame the repeating iscontinued, it can be so put that something that can be an ID, forexample, a frame number, is written.

Moreover, it can be said that the method of the Japanese publication ofunexamined patent application, Tokukaihei, No. 7-44729 is an animationcreating method for dialogically creating an animation method forchanging a display of a graphic symbol in conjunction with movement ofan instance, the instance being of an object-oriented program anddefining parts of apparatus to be designed, the instance correspondingto the graphic symbol. Furthermore, this system, which is forobject-oriented programming, is not so friendly to an ordinary user,which is not of skill, in order to create and operate a model. Moreover,this publication does not describe a method with which a user easilyspecifies a location at which the editing is carried out, and a methodof displaying the location.

Moreover, the apparatus of the Japanese publication of unexamined patentapplication, Tokukaihei, No. 9-167251 is an apparatus for analyzing asentence inputted in a natural language so as to obtain wordsconstituting the sentence and a relationship between the words, andobtain an animation-creating command for each word thus obtain, andcreating an animation in accordance with the commands. For thisapparatus, it is possible to reuse the command edited by registeringinto the dictionary. However, it is necessary to edit a command fordetailed editing, even though the editing of command is harder tounderstand than the editing in text.

Moreover, it can be said that the XML is not only readable to humanbecause the XML is written in text, but is capable of expressing generaldata in a versatile data description language in a format which theapplication can deal with, because the data is tagged with the tagsindicating the content.

Moreover, it can be said that the present invention has an object tomake an animation creating apparatus capable of (a) reusing part of datafrom a file written in a data description language that is text-basedand can be easily read and edited (by an ordinary user), and that can beused in a reproduction engine having a different format, whose typicalexample is the XML, and (b) creating an animation by editing a parameterwith ease.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the image data is data composedof command codes of the reproduction engine. Here, assuming that agraphical symbol located at point A at 0 second moves to point B at 3second, and to point C at 5 second, the reproduction engine can createsuch an intervening frame in which the graphical symbol locates betweenpoints A and B at 1 second, and can have such a display in which thegraphical symbol is not displayed at point B at 3 second. In short, thereproduction engine has a degree of freedom as to how the image data isinterpreted (even though there is a case a flag is provided to showwhether or not the degree of freedom is given to the image data, and iscapable of interpolating and filtering. The command code of thereproduction engine of the present animation editing apparatus includessuch case.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, the animation data is data todisplay still image data per predetermined time, continuously(sequentially). Here, for example assume that there are still images A,B, and C so that the still image A is set to be a background, and thestill image B is overlapped on the still image A in a first frame, andthe still image B is replaced with the still image C while keeping thestill image A as the background. In this case, the animation data may beso arranged that an image (A+B) and an image (A+C) are prepared inadvance. However, the animation data may so arranged as to includetime-varying image data in which the image (A+B) and an image C areprepared in advance so that the image C is overlapped on the image (A+B)after the image (A+B) is displayed. In short, the animation dataincludes such time-varying image obtained by a processing method of animage for such display.

Further, in the present embodiment, the animation is edited by editingthe still image data use for the animation. In addition to this, thepresent animation editing apparatus is capable of causing, for example,animation data of a viewer of a television to be data with which anotheranimation data is referred on a window displayed on the television.Specifically, it is possible to create such animation that animations ofchannel 1 and channel 2 are prepared and any one of the animation can bereferred or changed by clicking a mouse. Moreover, it is possible todeal with other than content of the frames, such as the sequence of theframes or repeating of third to fifth frames twice, and the like.

Moreover, examples of the time-varying image that can be used in thetime-varying image editing apparatus of the present invention are datain which actual still image data such as the JPEG, PNG, and BMP oractual time-varying image data such as the MPEG and AVI is providedsolely or in plurality per frame. It is possible to include animation inthose data. Furthermore, in case of the SMIL data, it is possible tospecify such that another time-varying image (music) data is reproducedafter a certain second from an end of time-varying image (music) data.Further, the SMIL is in concept of objects, but not concept of keyframes. Thus, the SMIL describes, for example, that an object acts likethis during a period from a certain second to a certain second.Therefore, by selecting a time as described in the present embodimentinstead of selecting a key frame, it is possible to extract an object orits parameter, which is written so that its action (parameter) ischanged at the time (because the SMIL has a data structure, which allowssuch extraction.

In FIG. 21, shown is a data structure written in the grammar of the SVG(Scalable Vector Graphics) instead of that of the SMIL, which allowsextraction (the SMIL and SVG are similar to each other in terms ofanimation). When using this data, if a time between 0 second and 9second is selected (then, preferably a frame image to be displayed atthe time is displayed, and a changed object is highlighted by its outerline with a changed line type or color), it is preferable that boldletters and a portion sandwiched between the bold letters are extracted,and the change of the variables of the x, y, width, and height in thebold “rect” is displayed with a color, layout, and the like changed, insuch a manner that the relationship between the variables are alsoshown.

Moreover, if there is a variable that specifies the interpolating methodwhen creating the intervening frame, it is preferably so arranged thatthe variable is also extracted. For example, in case where there are keyframes in which a graphical symbol moves from point A, point B to pointC, an intervening frame for interpolating with a straight line isdifferent from that for interpolating with a curve line. Not onlyinterpolating as to position, but also interpolating as to time ischanged. Specifically, in case of an animation in which a ball isbounding, having a key frame in which the ball bounds up maximally, anda key frame for in which a ball touches a ground, the ball has a fastestspeed when touching the ground, and a slowest speed when bounding upmaximally. Thus, an interpolating curve is specified so as to displaythe speed (or there is an attribute to decide a type of theinterpolating).

Moreover, the present invention may be expressed as the following firstto ninth animation creating apparatuses, and first recording medium.

Namely, the first animation creating apparatus is provided with ananalyzing means for analyzing text data written in a fixed and strictrule; an obtaining means for obtaining a command (or a parametercondition) necessary for creating an animation obtained by the analyzingmeans; an extracting means for extracting, from the text data, a textgroup regarding constitutional elements (characteristic information andmovement information) of the animation in accordance with the commandobtained by the obtaining means; a text editing means for editing thetext group extracted by the extracting means; and an animation creatingmeans for creating the animation in accordance with the command obtainedby the obtaining means.

Moreover, the second animation creating means (which can deal withanother animation reproduction engine), including the same elements asthe first animation creating apparatus, is so arranged that theobtaining means is provided with a dictionary in which a correspondingbetween the text in accordance with the rule and the command (or theparameter condition) for creating the animation is registered, andobtains the command (or the parameter condition) referring to thedictionary.

Furthermore, the third animation creating apparatus (which can specifyan object), including the same elements as the first animation creatingapparatus, is further provided with a specifying means for arbitrarilyspecifying one or a plurality of the animation constituting elements,and the text group that regards the specified one or plurality of theanimation constituting elements is limited in accordance with anextracting result of the extracting means.

Further, the fourth animation creating apparatus, including the sameelements as the first animation creating apparatus, is so arranged thatthe extracted text group is displayed in a color, font, size, and thelike changed in accordance with the constituent element or an amount ofthe change, when reproducing and editing the animation.

Moreover, the fifth animation creating apparatus, including the sameelements as the first animation creating apparatus, is so arranged thathow an amount of change in the constituent element is changed isdisplayed dynamically by using a counter, a slider, or the like, whenreproducing and editing the animation.

Furthermore, the sixth animation creating apparatus, including the sameelements as the first animation creating apparatus, is provided with agraphic display means for graphically displaying an editing result madeby the text editing means.

Further, the seventh animation creating apparatus, including the sameelements as the first animation creating apparatus, is further providedwith a graphic editing means for graphically editing a graphic displayedon the graphic display means, so as to reflect an editing result made bythe graphic editing means to the text data.

Moreover, the eighth animation creating apparatus, including the sameelements of the first animation creating apparatus, is further providedwith a display means for displaying the one or plurality of the keyframes of the animation.

Further, the ninth animation creating apparatus, including the sameelement as the eighth animation creating apparatus, has such anarrangement capable of listing and displaying texts extracted for theanimation including the plurality of the key frames, and copying all thetexts at once in such a manner that the texts are copied in accordancewith a rule by referring to the dictionary.

Furthermore, the first recording medium is a computer-readable recordingmedium storing thereon a program including an instruction to cause acomputer to execute an analyzing means for analyzing, in accordance witha strict rule, a data memory storage region storing thereon the strictrule, and input data written in a text in accordance with the strictrule, and obtaining a text group of texts constituting the data andrelationship between the texts, an obtaining means for obtaining, fromthe text group thus obtained by the analyzing means, a command (or aparameter condition) for creating an animation, an extracting means forextracting, from the text group thus obtained by the analyzing means, atext group regarding constituent elements (characteristic informationand movement information) of the animation, and a creating means forcreating the animation in accordance with the command (or the parametercondition) obtained by the obtaining means.

According to the present invention, the aforementioned object isattained by an animation creating apparatus is provided with ananalyzing means for analyzing text data written in a strict rule such asthe XML; an obtaining means for obtaining a command (or a parametercondition) necessary for creating an animation obtained by the analyzingmeans; an extracting means for extracting, from the text data, a portionthat regards constitutional elements (characteristic information andmovement information) of the animation; a text editing means for editingpart of the text data extracted by the extracting means; and ananimation creating means for creating the animation in accordance withthe command obtained by the obtaining means.

The analyzing means corresponds to a parser in the XML. Becausesentences are in accordance with the strict rule, it is easier to obtaina structure and content of the sentences, compared with analysis of anatural language. The analyzing means, for example, reads a text filesimply from a top, creates, as internal data, an object corresponding totags in accordance with the rule, and inputs tagged content as aparameter value. Moreover, the analyzing means may be so arranged as notto perform conversion as to tags regarding a function not in thereproduction engine. Moreover, the obtaining means obtains (orconverts), from the internal data, the command or parameter forinstructing the animation reproduction engine.

The aforementioned first to ninth animation creating apparatuses candeal with a reproduction engine having a different format, by beingprovided with the obtaining means for the command (or the parametercondition) necessary for creating the animation obtained by theanalyzing means. Further, the aforementioned first to ninth animationcreating apparatus are preferably provided with (a) a transmitting meansfor transmitting inputted text data via a medium such as a floppy disc,optical communication, telephone communication, and the like, and (b) areceiving means for receiving the text data via the medium from anotherapparatus.

In addition, the first to ninth animation creating apparatuses arecapable of accessing to a most suitable dictionary, with such anarrangement that the dictionary (the dictionary provided to the secondanimation creating apparatus) in which the corresponding between thetext in accordance with the rule and the command (or the parametercondition) for creating the animation is registered, is provided in aserver on a network such as the Web, so that a URL, version informationof a rule, or the like is described in text data, so that a version of arule, reproduction engine type, and a version of animation reproductionengines are transmitted, even for a different animation reproductionengine.

Moreover, the first to ninth animation creating apparatuses display thetext data (source data) regrinding the object, which is selected in theimage, when the object is selected. In the first to ninth animationcreating apparatuses, the animation can be modified by editing the thusdisplayed data.

Namely, easy specifying of a portion to be edited by the user isattained by displaying data regarding the movement of the thus selectedobject, for example, by using the scroll bar or a counter, or in adifferent alignment. Moreover, because the text is inputted, it ispossible to accurately input, for example, for adjusting positions.

Furthermore, for an animation to be reproduced in a plurality of frames,it is possible to display, in a list, texts regarding a selected object,by selecting the object. This allows to copy, cut, and paste the textsas a whole at once. For example, it is possible to copy, to key frames 7to 9, an animation that is in key frames 1 to 3. In this case, it may beso arranged that the key frames 1 and 7, the key frames 2 and 8, and thekey frames 3 and 9 respectively correspond to each other, regardless oftemporal differences between the key frames, and that a key frame iscreated in accordance with a time of the key frame from which thecopying is done, when pasting it on the key frame 7.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same maybe varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as adeparture from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all suchmodifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art intended tobe included within the scope of the following claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, an editing apparatus (present editing apparatus) ofthe present invention is so arranged that a varying parameter regardinga change in a condition of an object in a time-varying image isextracted from prescription data, the thus extracted varying parameteris modified in accordance with a user instruction, and the prescriptiondata of the time-varying image is updated by using the thus modifiedvarying parameter. With this arrangement, the time-varying image can beedited in accordance with the user instruction. Therefore, the presentediting apparatus can be suitably used in editing an animation by usingcomputer graphics.

1. A time-varying image editing apparatus for editing a time-varyingimage by using prescription data including a parameter that prescribes acondition of an object in the time-varying image, the time-varying imageediting apparatus comprising: an input section for receiving a userinstruction; an extracting section for extracting, from the prescriptiondata, a varying parameter that regards a change in the condition of theobject in the time-varying image; and a modifying section for modifyingthe thus extracted varying parameter in accordance with the userinstruction, and updating the prescription data by using the thusmodified varying parameter.
 2. A time-varying image editing apparatus asset forth in claim 1, comprising: an object specifying section forspecifying, in accordance with the user instruction, an object whosevarying parameter is to be extracted, the extracting section being soestablished as to extract the varying parameter of the object specifiedby the object specifying section.
 3. A time-varying image editingapparatus as set forth in claim 2, comprising: a prescription datadisplay section for displaying the prescription data, the objectspecifying section being so established as to specify, in accordancewith a user selection instruction regarding an object indicated in thethus displayed prescription data, an object whose varying parameter isto be extracted.
 4. A time-varying image editing apparatus as set forthin claim 3, comprising: an image display section for displaying an imagethat is in accordance with the prescription data, the object specifyingsection being so established as to specify, in accordance with a userselection instruction regarding an object in the thus displayed image,an object whose varying parameter is to be extracted.
 5. Thetime-varying image editing apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein:the image display section includes a conversion dictionary for creating,from the prescription data, an image.
 6. A time-varying image editingapparatus as set forth in claim 4, comprising: a varying parameterdisplay section for displaying the varying parameter thus extracted bythe extracting section, the modifying section being so established as tomodify, in accordance with a user input, the varying parameter, andcause the varying parameter display section to display the thus modifiedvarying parameter.
 7. A time-varying image editing apparatus as setforth in claim 6, comprising: a memory storage for storing thereon thevarying parameter that has been displayed on the varying parameterdisplay section, the modifying section being so established as to becapable of modifying the varying parameter by using content stored inthe memory storage.
 8. The time-varying image editing apparatus as setfroth in claim 6, wherein: the image display section is so establishedas to be capable of displaying the time-varying image in accordance withthe prescription data, and the varying parameter display section is soestablished as to sequentially display values of the varying parameterof the object in the time-varying image.
 9. The time-varying imageediting apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein: the varyingparameter display section is so established as to display the varyingparameter in a display format different from a display format in whichthe prescription data display section displays the prescription data.10. The time-varying image editing apparatus as set forth in claim 6,wherein: the prescription data is data in a text format.
 11. Thetime-varying image editing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein:the time-varying image is an animation.
 12. The time-varying imageediting apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein: the prescriptiondata is composed of a plurality of frames that correspond to a pluralityof still images, and the image display section is so established as to(a) create frame image data and intervening image data, the frame imagedata being data of the still images that respectively correspond to theframes of the prescription data, the intervening image data being stillimage data of an intervening frame for interpolating between therespective frames, (b) create time-varying image data for displaying theframe image data and the intervening image data continuously per apredetermined time, and then (c) display the time-varying image data asthe time-varying image.
 13. A time-varying image editing apparatus asset forth in claim 12, comprising: a varying parameter display sectionfor displaying the varying parameter thus extracted by the extractingsection, the extracting section being so established as to: (a) extractthe varying parameter of the thus specified object, and cause thevarying parameter display section to display the thus extracted varyingparameter as varying parameter information, and (b) detect a differencevalue in the thus extracted varying parameter between the respectiveframes, and cause the varying parameter display section to display thedifference value as difference information.
 14. The time-varying imageediting apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein: the extractingsection is so established as to cause the varying parameter displaysection to display, sequentially and as reproduction information, valuesof the varying parameter in the intervening image data and the frameimage data that are displayed on the image display section, the valuesof the varying parameter regarding the thus specified object.
 15. Thetime-varying image editing apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein:the modifying section is so established as to modify the prescriptiondata, in accordance with a user modification instruction regarding thevarying parameter information, reproduction information, or thedifference information.
 16. The time-varying image editing apparatus asset forth in claim 2, wherein: the prescription data is composed ofinformation indicating relationship between a time and a parameter ofthe object, and the object specifying section is so established as tospecify, in accordance with user selection instruction to select a time,an object having a parameter regarding the time, as the object whosevarying parameter is to be extracted.
 17. A time-varying image editingmethod for editing a time-varying image by using prescription dataincluding a parameter that prescribes a condition of an object in thetime-varying image, comprising the steps of: extracting, from theprescription data, a varying parameter that regards a change in thecondition of the object in the time-varying image; modifying the thusextracted varying parameter in accordance with a user instruction; andupdating the prescription data by using the thus modified varyingparameter.
 18. A time-varying image editing method for editing atime-varying image by using prescription data including a parameter thatprescribes a condition of an object in thetime-varying image, thetime-varying image editing method causing a computer to execute theprocess of: extracting, from the prescription data, a varying parameterthat regards a change in the condition of the object in the time-varyingimage; modifying the thus extracted varying parameter in accordance witha user instruction; and updating the prescription data by using the thusmodified varying parameter.
 19. A time-varying image editing program foruse in a computer of a time-varying image editing apparatus for editinga time-varying image by using prescription data including a parameterthat prescribes a condition of an object in the time-varying image, thetime-varying image editing program causing the computer to function as:an extracting section for extracting, from the prescription data, avarying parameter that regards a change in the condition of the objectin the time-varying image; and a modifying section for modifying thethus extracted varying parameter in accordance with a user instruction,and updating the prescription data by using the thus modified varyingparameter.
 20. A recording medium storing thereon a computer program fora time-varying image editing process for editing a time-varying image byusing prescription data including a parameter that prescribes acondition of an object in the time-varying image, the recording mediumstoring thereon a computer program being operable to effect the processof: extracting, from the prescription data, a varying parameter thatregards a change in the condition of the object in the time-varyingimage; modifying the thus extracted varying parameter in accordance witha user instruction; and updating the prescription data by using the thusmodified varying parameter.
 21. A method for editing a time-varyingimage including an object, wherein a condition of the object isprescribed by prescription data including at least one parameter,comprising the steps of: extracting from the prescription data a varyingparameter that varies with a change in the condition of the object inthe time-varying image; modifying the extracted varying parameter inaccordance with a user instruction; and updating the prescription datawith the modified varying parameter.